Stipa arundinacea – Elegant Ornamental Grass with Graceful Flowering Plumes

Stipa arundinacea is a graceful, clump-forming ornamental grass prized for its fine-textured, arching green foliage and airy flowering plumes that add movement and softness to borders, meadows, and naturalistic planting schemes.

Flowering occurs in late spring to early summer (May to July), when delicate, feathery flower heads emerge, swaying beautifully in the breeze and providing visual interest and texture.

Best positioned in full sun to partial shade, Stipa arundinacea prefers well-drained soil but is adaptable to a variety of soil types, including poorer soils. It is moderately drought tolerant once established.

Care tips: Water regularly during dry spells, especially when young, but avoid waterlogging. Mulching helps retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Feed lightly in early spring with a balanced, slow-release fertiliser to support healthy growth.

Prune annually in late winter or early spring by cutting back old, dead foliage to the ground to encourage fresh new growth.

Stipa arundinacea is a low-maintenance, elegant grass that adds year-round architectural interest and natural movement to UK gardens.